The Unlikely Hero

Chapter 28. Kin

My wings were spread in a wide span as the wind rushed along my silver scales... I soared across the sky, the sun shining down on me and making my skin glisten and glitter. It was utter freedom. I flapped my wings up and turned my body in a spiral as I whooshed down and into a crevice of the mountains. I exited at the end, the adrenaline rushing through my veins. Yes, if there was one thing I loved about being a dragon, it was the ability to fly. It was divine. It was everything one could ever dream of. Heh. Dream.

I giggled mentally and flew up towards the mountain tops to be nearer to the sky and the clouds. One day I would go high up, as high as my wings would take me, and slip past the clouds, tasting their reverent sweetness. My eyes swept over the landscape below me and I let out a happy gurgle. Flapping my wings stronger I soared forward in the air, twirling and flipping, pushing it to my limits. I still sucked at landing, though, and that was exactly what I intended to improve this time.

An hour later, I was coughing up dirt and spitting out grass blades out of my mouth, as I turned to lay on my back. Ok, I still sucked at landing even after numerous attempts. I just couldn't get the moment I was supposed to change my forms to step down onto the ground smoothly. I thought it was my problem only but the golden dragon had a human form, too. I sat up, sighing.

And what the hell was that?! I had avoided thinking about the encounter for the last few hours, hoping that flying would help me process it but I did need to face it, sooner or later. The setting sun was painting the landscape in faint hues of red, gold and brown and I watched it morosely. Apparently, all dragons could change form into a human. What did that mean, exactly? Why did neither Soran nor Ralph mention it to me? Did they think I knew it? Or did they know I did not know it and wanted me not to know it?

I scratched my head absent-mindedly. This was getting really convoluted. However, I knew for a fact there were things Soran and Ralph were not telling me. Despite our comradery and common goals, we were not friends, were we? Suddenly, I was not so sure. We acted friendly to one another, we joked around and spent some time interacting with each other but what was friendship, really? When did you call someone a friend?

I called Elek my friend. I called Jill my friend. I was hoping Soran and Ralph could be considered friends, too. But back then, at the Academy, I had never managed to make any such friends. As soon as I thought I was making some headway relationship-wise, they would find out about my fire affinity and, ironically, enough, start giving me the cold shoulder. Fire magic was the reason my family gave me away when I was still a child. Fire magic was the reason I could never get close to anybody for they were scared of me. Fire magic was the reason even I got scared of myself, sometimes. Well, no more.

I smiled softly, as small fire flames danced around me. Now, I loved my fire magic. To hell with stupid friendships. What do I need them for? And who cared if dragons could turn into humans? So what. So, what? I furrowed my brows as I thought about Blacky aka Jeth the Elusive. He must have a human form, too. Then again, he hated humans so he would probably slit his own throat first rather than walk around in human skin. I giggled to myself and absent-mindedly glanced to my side, where something silky and smooth touched my thigh. Totto was rubbing its head along my thigh affectionately and I petted him gently. For some reason, the hound could feel whenever I was down and would always show up without fail.

"Oh, well, at least I have you, Totto," I smiled at my demon pet and conjured a small fire ball for it to play with.

I got up and dusted myself off as I started trekking along the mountain. The views were amazing and my mood started to lift up. I kept conjuring fire balls for my pet to play with. Totto would run around trying to catch them with its teeth, jumping and twirling about just like a puppy would. Suddenly, he halted, ears twitching and body tensed as Totto sniffed the air. I followed his gaze down the mountain to see a lonely figure, walking across the plain in an unhurried gait.